Uh oh- better keep our tiny terrors out of trouble..

[Scummymummy]

Cut and pasted this from a newspaper site. Sounds quite worrying to me. No tantrums outside the house the moment they hit 3, or else. Isn't it taking labelling to extremes and creating self-fulfilling prophecies galore?

"THE police are to set up a secret database of children as young as three who they fear might grow up to become criminals.

Youngsters who behave badly or commit trivial misdemeanours will be put on the confidential register so that they can be monitored and supervised throughout childhood.

The controversial initiative is to be pioneered in 11 London boroughs from March and then expanded nationally. Any child who is thought to be at risk of committing a crime by the police, schools or social services, will be put on the database."

That's disgusting. The police can't even deal with the adults they know are already criminals let alone increasing their workload with tiny-tots!

Unbelievable, Big Brother is here!
Mind you when we had a recent attempted break in at home the police knew who had done it (our neighbours caught them) but as they were 15 years old and it they hadn't yet commiteed three offences no further action would be taken by the CPP as too many juvenile offences were taking up the courts time!! So how they expect to have enough resource is beyond me.

I wonder if this latest news has anything to do with the 'sin bins' for three-year-olds government proposal? (see old talk thread on this if interested).

IMO, it's one thing to identify and support children 'at risk' of anything - from parental abuse to non-achievement at school - and that's done already, isn't? Not always effectively as the Victoria Climbie case shows. But it's another thing by far to do this secretly and give three year olds the beginnings of a criminal record. If it's secret, then surely it's for the benefit of the police, not the benefit of the child and their family? And as others have said, where on earth is the funding going to come to 'monitor and supervise' these children throughout their childhood?

Also, might it just encourage some older children to commit a crime as in 'the police already have my number'. Even be seen as a kind of status symbol for Emanem fans? As you say, scummymummy, a self fulfilling prophecy.

Lastly, what's the betting that all the children in a supposedly 'crimal' family are put on the database becasue they happen to live under the same roof?

Gives the statement 'innocent until proved guilty' a hollow ring.

I cannot believe that is true, or if it is that the police would bother to put anyone on the database. Surely they've got better things to do, like catching criminals (ooo, what an old-fashioned idea!!)

Outrageous! But if the Police can't take any action until they are 15, what is the point? And if children are told not to do something, well aren't they then more likely to go ahead and do it anyway? It seems to me that the parents and guardians should be the ones put on a register, if they are letting their kids down in such a way that they are committing crimes at 3 years of age.

could i ask which newspaper carried this story? just interested. thanks.

It was the Telegraph, Bossykate. Not my usual fodder but I saw a link on another site. You can read it at [url]news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/25/ncrime25.xml[/url]

oops, url link didn't work. Can anyone be bothered to explain how to do links on Mumsnet?

Scummymummy, SueW posted a comprehensive guide a while ago which should be here
if I can still remember how to do it !

I dont know if this is the right way round it but dont you think something has to be done to stop these little terrors growing into bigger ones?? There needs to be alot of backup so people can step in and educate the little darlings. How many of us have read in total disbelief at stories in the paper involving young children. I have seen children as young as around 8, out at night, hanging around pubs asking penny for the guy. Ok they cant prosecute minors but they might be able to stop them doing anything criminal. But I think until they do something about the state of the current police force (unable to recruit and keep current officers) I dont think they have a hope to sort out the petty crime that goes on. The attitude of some leaves alot to be desired, 'what do you expect if you live there', yeah great help.

message withdrawn